BORN – Oswestry
HOMEFRONT – Place / Occupation / St Oswald’s Church
JOB – Wagoner
UNIT – 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
RANK – Private 11035
THEATRE – Ypres / Hooge Crater. 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 7 August 1915
DIED – KIA 7 August 1915. Aged 22.
BURIED – Menin Gate, Ypres (grave unknown) (CWGC)
John Henry Roberts was born in Oswestry in 1893. It is not known who his parents were but it appears that he was brought up by his aunt, Hannah Roberts who was married to Peter Foulkes. They lived at 105 Willow Street, Oswestry. Hannah was from Kinnerley, Peter was from Oswestry and was a leather worker and finisher. In 1911 John is possibly working as a wagoner on a farm in Tanymynydd at Bronygarth. At the time of his enlistment John was living at Rhos(llanerchrugg), Wrexham.
John enlisted in 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and would have been one of the first to volunteer, predating the Oswestry Pals. He went over to France on 22 May 1915 with 5 Battalion and arrived at Ypres about a week later. His active service was short; he was KIA on 5 August 1915, probably a victim of artillery and a casualty of the day to day attrition of the trenches. At the time the battalion was undertaking 2 day tours in trenches to the south of the Menin Road. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate and at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.
Acknowledgements.
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